Modular datacenter server rack retention

ABSTRACT

A modular datacenter includes a server rack, a main beam, and an attachment member. The server rack is configured to hold a plurality of servers. The main beam is configured to hold the server rack in a specific location within the modular datacenter. The attachment member is coupled to the main beam and connected to the server rack. The attachment member is configured to apply a force to the server rack to put the server rack under compression or tension, and to change the natural frequency of the server rack based on the compression or the tension and on the location of the attachment member with respect to the server rack.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/606,014, entitled “Modular Datacenter Server Rack Retention,” filedon Oct. 26, 2009, the disclosure of which is hereby expresslyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, andmore particularly relates to modular datacenter server rack retention.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

A modular datacenter can be a datacenter that is mobile, such that themodular datacenter can be transported to a specific location to provideadditional computing capacity. The modular datacenter can includemultiple server racks, servers, cooling devices, and other components.Additionally, the modular datacenter is typically transported with theserver racks fully loaded with information technology equipment, such asthe servers. Thus, when the modular datacenter arrives at the desiredlocation, the modular datacenter can be quickly set up and madeoperational.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a modular datacenter;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an enlarged view of a top portion ofthe modular datacenter including top retention members and a top portionof a server rack;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an enlarged view of a bottom portion ofthe modular datacenter including bottom retention members and a bottomportion of the server rack having multiple servers; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for connecting the server rackwithin a modular chassis of the modular datacenter.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description in combination with the Figures is provided toassist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The followingdiscussion will focus on specific implementations and embodiments of theteachings. This focus is provided to assist in describing the teachingsand should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope orapplicability of the teachings. However, other teachings can certainlybe utilized in this application.

FIG. 1 shows a modular datacenter 100 of an information handling system.For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system mayinclude any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operableto compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate,switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, orutilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business,scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an informationhandling system may be a personal computer, a network storage device, orany other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance,functionality, and price. The information handling system may includerandom access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as acentral processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic,ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components ofthe information handling system may include one or more disk drives, oneor more network ports for communicating with external devices as well asvarious input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, anda video display. The information handling system may also include one ormore buses operable to transmit communications between the varioushardware components.

The modular datacenter 100 includes a modular chassis 102, a server rack104, main beams 106, base beams 108, top retention members 110, andbottom retention members 112. The main beams 106 are preferablyconnected to a top panel of the modular chassis 102, and the base beams108 are preferably connected to a bottom panel of the modular chassis.The top retention members 110 are preferably connected to the main beams106, and the bottom retention members 112 are preferably connected tothe base beams 108. The server rack 104 is preferably connected to boththe top retention members 110 and to the bottom retention members 112.

The server rack 104 can be preloaded with multiple servers, shown inFIG. 3, so that the modular chassis 102 can be transported to a remotelocation for immediate use. The top retention members 110 and the bottomretention members 112 respectively can connect the server rack 104 tothe main beams 106 and to the base beams 108 of the modular chassis 102.Thus, during transportation of the modular datacenter 100, the mainbeams 106 and the base beams 108 can keep the server rack 102 fromshifting around within the modular chassis 102. The top retentionmembers 110 and the bottom retention members 112 can also isolate theserver rack 104 from vibrations within the modular datacenter 100, andcan support the server rack in the up and down, left and right, andforward and backward directions. The vibrations within the modulardatacenter 100 can be caused during the transportation of the modulardatacenter, and/or can be caused by the operation of other deviceswithin the modular chassis 102. The top retention members 110 can beadjusted on the main beams 106 to hold the server rack 104 within themodular chassis 102 under compression, tension, or neither compressionnor tension as discussed more fully with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a top portion of the modular datacenter100. The top retention members 110 each have a slide member 202, anisolation mount 204, and an attachment member 206. The slide member 202is connected to the main beam 106 with bolts 208. The slide member 202,the isolation mount 204, and the attachment member 206 are held inphysical communication with each other with a bolt 210. The attachmentmembers 206 are connected to the server rack 104 by bolts 212. Theisolation mount 204 can be a center bonded isolation mount, such thatthe center of the isolation mount is metal to provide support for thebolt 210 to connect the slide member 202, the isolation mount, and theattachment member 206. The outer edges of the isolation mount 204 can bean elastomer such as rubber, such that the physical communicationbetween the attachment member 210 and the isolation mount is through therubber.

In an embodiment, the slide member 202 and the main beam 106 can berigid so that the top retention member 110 can be held within a specificlocation of the modular chassis 102. The isolation mount 204 preferablyisolates the attachment member 206 from the slide member 202 and fromthe main beam 106. Thus, the isolation mount 204 can reduce the amountof vibrations passed to the attachment member 206 from the base beam 106and from the slide member 202. The slide member 202 can be adjusted onthe main beam 106, such that the top retention member 110 can be in anuppermost position as shown in FIG. 2, a lowermost position, or anylocation between the uppermost and lowermost positions. The topretention members 110 can be placed in the uppermost position, so thatthe server rack 104 can be inserted in the modular chassis 102 betweenthe top retention members and the bottom retention members 112. Theslide member 202 can then be slid downwardly along the main beam 106until the attachment member 206 is placed at a desired location withrespect to the server rack 104. Then the attachment member 206 can beconnected to the server rack 104 with the bolt 212.

In an embodiment, the top retention member 110 can be pressed downwardwith enough force that the server rack 104 is placed in compression bythe force exerted from the attachment member 206 to the top of theserver rack. In another embodiment, the top retention member 110 can beplaced a desired height above the top of the server rack 104. Thus, asthe bolt 212 connects the server rack 104 with the attachment member206, the bolt can exert a force upward on the server rack to place theserver rack in tension. Alternatively, the top retention member 110 canbe placed in physical communication with the top of the server rack 104without exerting a substantial force on the server rack, such that thebolt 212 can connect the server rack to the top retention member withoutplacing the server rack under tension or compression. When theattachment member 206 and the top retention member 110 are in a desiredlocation along the main beam 106, the bolts 208 can be tightened to holdthe top retention member in the desired location and as a result theserver rack 104 can be held in either compression, tension, or neithercompression nor tension.

The compression and/or tension of the server rack 104 can change thenatural frequency of the server rack, which can provide additionalprotection to the servers within the server rack from vibrations causedby other devices within the modular datacenter 100, and/or thetransportation of the modular datacenter. The change in the naturalfrequency of the server rack 104 can cause the natural frequency of theserver rack to be different than the frequency of the vibrations. Thus,the change in the natural frequency of the server rack 104 can preventthe vibrations within the modular chassis 102 from resonating within theserver rack 104. In an embodiment, the top retention members 110 can berotated ninety degrees, such that the top retention members align withand operate similar to the bottom retention members 112 as discussedbelow with respect to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a bottom portion of the modulardatacenter 100 with a plurality of servers 302 placed within the serverrack 104. The bottom retention members 112 each have an isolation mount304, an attachment member 306, a spacer 308, and a compression member310. The isolation mount 304, the attachment member 306, and the spacer308 are connected to the base beam 108 with a bolt 312. The bottom ofthe server rack 104 is in physical communication with the compressionmember 310, and connected to the attachment member 306 with a boltand/or a screw.

When the server rack 104 is placed within the modular chassis 102, theserver rack can be placed on the compression members 310 of the bottomretention members 112. The weight of the server rack 104 and the servers302 is preferably supported by the bottom retention members 112, and thecompression members 310 preferably provide a first isolation barrierbetween the bottom of the server rack and vibrations from the modularchassis 102. The attachment member 306 is preferably composed of a rigidmaterial capable of supporting the weight of the server rack 104 and theservers 302.

The isolation mount 304 is preferably a center bonded isolation mountsimilar to the isolation mount 204 discuss above. Thus, the isolationmount 304 can provide isolation between the attachment member 306 andvibrations within the base beam 108. If the top retention member 110 isplaced in a position along the main beam 106 such that the server rack104 is placed in tension, the server rack can be lifted slightly and thecompression of the compression members 310 can be decreased. In thissituation, the bottom retention members 112 do not have to support theentire weight of the server rack 104.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of a method 400 for installing a server rackinto a modular chassis of a modular datacenter. At block 402, a topretention member is placed in an uppermost position on a main beam ofthe modular chassis. The server rack is placed on a bottom retentionmember of the modular chassis at block 404. The server rack ispreferably placed on a compression member of the bottom retentionmember. At block 406, the server rack is fastened to an attachmentmember of the bottom retention member. The attachment member ispreferably isolated from a base beam of the modular chassis via anisolation mount. The isolation mount can reduce or prevent vibrationswithin the modular chassis from being transmitted to the server rack andthe servers. The vibrations can be caused by the transportation of themodular datacenter and/or caused by the operation of other deviceswithin the modular chassis.

At block 408, a determination is made whether the server rack is to beplaced in compression. If the server rack is to be placed incompression, the top retention member is pressed downward until theattachment member of the top retention member exerts a force on theserver rack to cause compression of the server rack at block 410. Theattachment member of the top retention member and the server rack arepreferably isolated from vibrations within a main beam of the modularchassis via an isolation mount. The server rack is connected to theattachment member at block 412. If the server rack is not to be placedin compression, a determination is made whether the server rack is to beplaced is tension at block 414.

At block 416, if the server rack is to be placed in tension theattachment member is placed at a desired height above the server rack,the server rack is connected to the attachment member, and the serverrack is held in tension. The server rack is connected to the attachmentmember at block 412. If the server rack is not to be placed in tension,the attachment member is placed in physical communication with theserver rack without exerting enough force on the server rack to placethe server rack in compression at block 418. The server rack isconnected to the attachment member at block 412.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailabove, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular datacenter comprising: a server rackconfigured to hold a plurality of servers; a main beam configured tohold the server rack in a specific location within the modulardatacenter; a slide member in physical communication with the main beamand coupled to an attachment member, the slide member configured toslide vertically along the main beam to change the distance between theattachment member and the server rack, wherein the attachment member isa first distance from the server rack based on the slide member beingconnected to the main beam at a first position and the attachment memberis a second distance from the server rack based on the slide memberbeing connected to the main beam at a second position, wherein theattachment member slides along the main beam from the first position tothe second position without disconnecting from the main beam wherein thefirst distance and the second distance are different distances; and theattachment member is coupled to the main beam and connected to theserver rack, the attachment member configured to apply a force to theserver rack to put the server rack under compression or tension, and tochange the natural frequency of the server rack based on the compressionor the tension, and on the location of the attachment member withrespect to the server rack.
 2. The modular datacenter of claim 1 furthercomprising: an isolation mount in physical communication with the slidemember and the main beam, the isolation mount configured to adjust adistance that the attachment member is from the main beam, and furtherconfigured to isolate the server rack from vibrations produced by othercomponents within the modular datacenter.
 3. The modular datacenter ofclaim 1 further comprising: a base beam connected to a bottom panel ofthe modular datacenter, the base beam configured to hold the server rackin the specific location within the modular datacenter.
 4. The modulardatacenter of claim 1 wherein a distance between the attachment memberand the server rack affects the natural frequency of the server rack. 5.The modular datacenter of claim 4 wherein the server rack is under thetension when the distance between the attachment member and the serverrack is greater than a threshold distance.
 6. The modular datacenter ofclaim 5 wherein the server rack is under the compression when thedistance between the attachment member and the server rack is less thanthe threshold distance, and the attachment member exerts a specificamount of force downward on the server rack.
 7. The modular datacenterof claim 1 wherein the attachment member is connected to the server rackwith a bolt, a screw, or any combination thereof.
 8. A modulardatacenter comprising: a main beam configured to hold a server rack in aspecific location within the modular datacenter; a slide member inphysical communication with the main beam and coupled to an attachmentmember, the slide member configured to slide vertically along the mainbeam to change the distance between the attachment member and the serverrack, wherein the attachment member is a first distance from the serverrack based on the slide member being connected to the main beam at afirst position and the attachment member is a second distance from theserver rack based on the slide member being connected to the main beamat a second position, wherein the attachment member slides along themain beam from the first position to the second position withoutdisconnecting from the main beam, wherein the first distance and thesecond distance are different distances; and the attachment member iscoupled to the main beam, the attachment member configured to connectwith the server rack, and further configured to apply a force to theserver rack to put the server rack under compression or tension, and tochange the natural frequency of the server rack based on the compressionor the tension, and on the location of the attachment member withrespect to the server rack.
 9. The modular datacenter of claim 8 furthercomprising: an isolation mount in physical communication with the slidemember and the attachment member, the isolation mount configured toadjust a distance that the attachment member is from the main beam, andfurther configured to isolate the server rack from vibrations producedby other components within the modular datacenter.
 10. The modulardatacenter of claim 8 further comprising: a base beam connected to abottom panel of the modular datacenter, the base beam configured to holdthe server rack in the specific location within the modular datacenter.11. The modular datacenter of claim 8 wherein a distance between theattachment member and the server rack affects the natural frequency ofthe server rack.
 12. The modular datacenter of claim 11 wherein theserver rack is under the tension when the distance between theattachment member and the server rack is greater than a thresholddistance.
 13. The modular datacenter of claim 12 wherein the server rackis under the compression when the distance between the attachment memberand the server rack is less than the threshold distance, and theattachment member exerts a specific amount of force downward on theserver rack.
 14. The modular datacenter of claim 8 wherein theattachment member is connected to the server rack with a bolt, a screw,or any combination thereof.
 15. A modular datacenter comprising: aserver rack configured to hold a plurality of servers; a main beamconfigured to hold the server rack in a specific location within themodular datacenter; a first attachment member connected to the serverrack, the first attachment member configured to apply a force to theserver rack to put the server rack under compression or tension, and tochange the natural frequency of the server rack based on the compressionor the tension, and on the location of the first attachment member withrespect to the server rack; a slide member in physical communicationwith the main beam and coupled to the first attachment member, the slidemember configured to slide vertically along the main beam to change thedistance between the first attachment member and the server rack,wherein the attachment member is a first distance from the server rackbased on the slide member being connected to the main beam at a firstposition and the attachment member is a second distance from the serverrack based on the slide member being connected to the main beam at asecond position, wherein the attachment member slides along the mainbeam from the first position to the second position withoutdisconnecting the main beam, wherein the first distance and the seconddistance are different distances; a base beam connected to a bottom ofthe modular datacenter; a second attachment member configured to supportthe weight of the server rack; and a compression member in physicalcommunication with the second attachment member and the server rack, thecompression member configured to isolate the server rack from vibrationswithin the modular datacenter, wherein a compression of the compressionmember is affected by whether the first attachment member places theserver rack under compression or tension.
 16. The modular datacenter ofclaim 15 further comprising: an isolation mount in physicalcommunication with the slide member and with the first attachmentmember, the isolation mount configured to adjust a distance between thefirst attachment member and the main beam, and further configured toisolate the server rack from vibrations within the modular datacenter.17. The modular datacenter of claim 15 wherein a distance between thefirst attachment member and the server rack affects the naturalfrequency of the server rack.
 18. The modular datacenter of claim 17wherein the server rack is under the tension when the distance betweenthe first attachment member and the server rack is greater than athreshold distance.
 19. The modular datacenter of claim 15 wherein theserver rack is under the compression when the distance between the firstattachment member and the server rack is less than the thresholddistance, and the attachment member exerts a specific amount of forcedownward on the server rack.
 20. The modular datacenter of claim 15wherein the first attachment member is connected to the server rack witha bolt, a screw, or any combination thereof.